Discovering the Sphinx and Great Pyramids in Egypt's burning sands
In September 2007, I was lucky to explore Egypt for 7 days, and see the one of the 7 wonders of the world, the great pyramids and the Sphinx!
Staying in Hurghada, a resort town located on the Red Sea coast that’s known for its beautiful beaches, crystal-clear waters, and vibrant coral reefs, it’s a nice break after a busy 7 months in Osnabruck where I was based with 115 Provost Company, Royal Military Police.
The town is located on the eastern coast of Egypt, some 350 miles (550 kilometres) southeast of Cairo, that overlooks the red sea. There’s a big range of experiences to see and do in the region, including scuba diving, 4x4 desert expeditions and day trips to see the pyramids and Sphinx which is what draws me there.
The weather was very warm with the daytimes being in the mid thirty degrees most days, means I start to get a little bored just sitting by the pool most days.
Seeing the incredible pyramids of Giza
It’s my first time taking an organised excursion and I’m pleased to give someone else the responsibility of organising everything to see these world-class landmarks.
As you can imagine, the Pyramids of Giza are understandably one of the most iconic and ancient landmarks in the world – because they just defy belief when you see them.
After learning about them quite extensively in school, I can recall the Great Pyramid is not only, the largest, but also the oldest of the three pyramids.
The tour guide tells us the great pyramid is 138 metres (453 feet) tall, and apparently was the tallest man-made structure in the world for over 3,800 years until the completion of the Lincoln Cathedral in England.
From what we’re told, the great pyramid was built using an estimated 2.3 million limestone blocks, each weighing an average of 2.5 tons – heavier than most 4x4 cars on the road today!
I come away with the idea that the pyramids are a testament to the incredible engineering and architectural skills of the ancient Egyptians.
The Great Sphinx
The Sphinx can be found nearby to the Pyramids and looks everything I expected it to be from Indiana Jones movies and playing Tomb Raider as a teenager!
My research tells me that the Sphinx is believed to represent the pharaoh Khafre and is considered a symbol of ancient Egypt. It is one of the world's oldest and largest monumental sculptures, measuring about 20 meters (66 feet) in height and 73 meters (240 feet) in length, which actually feels a little smaller than you might think, where I expected it to be bigger (maybe Hollywood’s influence!).
After a day of exploring these incredible landmarks, I retire to the bus and look forward to getting back to Hurghada and a cold beer!
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